It does not matter. Provided that the manufacturer of the flooring products (coverings, adhesives, etc.) says they are compatible with floor-heating systems (always defer to the floor-covering manufacturer’s instructions), the installation is UL-approved.
First, measure the actual heated area, not the total square footage of the room. Do not lay heating cables under cabinets, furniture or appliances.
Next, decide on heat output. When installing Mapeheat Cable with Mapeheat Membrane: A 3-pillar spacing in Mapeheat Membrane produces 10 W per sq. ft. (low output), which is not typically recommended but is acceptable for low-use areas when trying to stretch coverage. A 2-pillar spacing in Mapeheat Membrane produces 15 W per sq. ft. (high output), which is best for installations on a concrete slab or when heat loss is a concern. An alternating pillar spacing of 2-3-2 in Mapeheat Membrane produces 12 W per sq. ft. (standard output).
When installing Mapeheat Cable with Mapeheat Cable Guides: A spacing of 3" in Mapeheat Cable Guides produces 12 W per sq. ft. (standard output). Alternating spacing of 3"/2" in Mapeheat Cable Guides produces 15 W per sq. ft. (high output), which is best for installations on a concrete slab or when heat loss is a concern.
Always default to the lesser square foot on the chart.
Before removing the heating cable from the packaging, measure and confirm the intended square footage of your heated area. Use the coverage chart on the cable box to determine which cable spacing will yield the desired square footage. Note that consistent spacing between the cable and across the room must be maintained for even heat distribution. If you have too much cable left over, double-check that you have purchased the right cable based on the square footage of the area. If the wrong cable was purchased, contact the distributor to see if a return is possible. Otherwise, install any excess heating cable in buffer zones (such as behind the toilet) or in areas not previously calculated; or, install the cable tighter to the perimeter.
240 V gives you twice the square footage of 120 V at the same amperage, therefore allowing larger areas to be heated per thermostat. Please note that the dedicated-circuit voltage must match the voltage of the cable that is installed.
No, cutting the cable will cause the cable to fail and will also void the warranty. If too much cable is left, you need to install it in a buffer zone or re-install the cable closer to the perimeter of the heated area.
Installation of Mapeheat Membrane below luxury vinyl flooring follows the same installation method as engineered and laminate floors: First, embed the floor-heating system within cementitious material, ensuring in 1/4" (6 mm) of coverage above the heating system. Either a mortar or self-leveling compound can be used, but achieving the desired flatness is easiest with a self-leveling underlayment. Proceed with installing the floor covering on top, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
You can install more than one Mapeheat Mat or Mapeheat Cable to a thermostat, provided that the total draw does not exceed 15 amps. The thermostat typically holds up to 3 or 4 sets of leads before fitting the lead wires into the terminals becomes difficult.
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